iOS 5.1 Beta Offers Developers Limited Siri Integration

So far, nothing in the iOS 5.1 beta seeded yesterday has supported the rumors that Apple would add new capabilities to Siri with the first official point update, but there is at least one big new addition to Siri with the release of yesterday’s beta: it gives developers limited Siri integration.

A source confirmed to Ars that a handful of the new iOS 5.1 APIs allow developers to specifically handle the response from Siri’s speech-recognition servers. These APIs don’t allow developers to integrate Siri support for controlling an app the way that Apple has with, say, Messages or Reminders. But it does open up the possibility to better handle text dictation input.

Better yet, it implies that opening SIri’s advanced functionality up to app developers is a work-in-process that will get more robust in time.

About the author:

John Brownlee is a Contributing Editor. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.

VGISoftware

Great news!

I think that once SIRI is fully accessible by third-party developers that that will be a huge feather in Apple’s hat, as well as a huge inducement for developers to not only enhance their apps, but perhaps think of wholly new types of apps because of it.

FriarNurgle

Siri, finish this level of Angry Birds for me.

Mssangol

As long as Apple doesn’t include Siri on iPhone 4 devices (as they should have), I can’t really care for Siri news..

Brandon Dillon

That’s the major selling point for the iPhone 4S. Keep in mind they are running a business, which is to generate profit. They are making more profit by making Siri an iPhone 4S exclusive.

Mssangol

I know, but Apple should be careful with software related exclusivities when it comes to their iOS-devices. If I buy an overpriced phone, I’m expecting to get full software update support for at least two years.

David Edwards

if your thought your iPhone was overpriced why did you buy one… considering all other companies hardly ever update there phones, and release new ones every couple of months.. think yourself lucky apple gave you iOS 5